Hinge and the like



Dec. 29, 1936. T. E, HORST 2,065,700

HINGE AND THE LIKE .55. l nVenTor:

' 119" Cchan P511',

bgjl. Q e1' Dec. 29, 1936.

' original'Filed oct. 7, 1932 T. E. HoRs-r 4 HINGE AND` THE LIKE 4 sheetssheet 2 ve nfo r:

l han/'forst' Dec. 29, 1936. T. E, HORST' 2,065,700

- HINGE AND` THE LIKE Original Filed 0G15. 7,g 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES HINGE AND THE LIKE Tallmon Ethan Horst, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 7, 1932, Serial No. 636,669- Renewed May 14, 1936 1 Claim.

This invention has to do with improvements in hinges and the like, and the features of the invention relate especially to improvements in hinges which yare concealed in the sense that when viewed from one side of the hinged device the hinge or hinges is or are concealed from View. As concerns certain features o f the present invention, the same constitutes an improvement on the general type of hinge disclosed in my copending application for patent on Drawing boards and the like, Serial No. 447,557, Patent No. 1,941,554, issued Jan. 2, 1934. In the arrangement disclosed, in that case there is provided'a hinge construction incorporating two elements or members connecting the hinged elements together, such members including a slide member which is pivoted to one of the hinged elements and is slidably connected to the other of the hinged elements, and including another link member which is pivotally connected to both of the hinged elements; and in the arrangement disclosed in that earlier case the pivotal connection of the link member to the hinged element to'which the slide is slidably connected is offset laterally from the line of slide and does not coincide therewith.

In certain forms of the present invention the pivotal connection of the link to the hinged element to which the slide is slidably connected coincides with the plane in which the Slidable element moves.

'Ihe particular arrangement disclosed in that earlier application is subject to the limitation also that the total hinging movement which can be accomplished as between the two elements which are hinged together is limited to ninety degrees, whereas certain of the embodiments of the invention herein disclosedV are capable of 'a very much greater amount of hinging movement, in certain cases as much as one hundred eighty degrees or a' semi-circle. Therefore it may be stated that one object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the amount `of hinging movement may be sub stantially increased as compared with previous arrangements of concealed hinges.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an arrangement in which a proper hinging action is produced as between two elements which are formed on warped or curved surfaces, such as the hinging of car doors of automobilesr to the bodies thereof. In such cases there are presented certain very definite requirements due to the vfact that not only are the car door andbody elements formed on Warped or curved surfaces, but also the door openings are curved and not straight, so that the line of joinder at the hinged side of the door is doubly distorted. The hinges of the present invention are so formed that they serve admirably well '5- for use in such localities andfor such service as the-foregoing. In this connection also the hinges herein disclosed are so arranged as to provide for checking the opening movement of the door, such checking movement being performed by spring action. The hinges therefore serve both the hinging function and also the function of a door check of spring form. This spring checking feature may also be used in connection with hinges for other application than for application to car doors.`

Another feature of the invention is to provide a form and arrangement of the hinges which can be made from parts of simple form, and by manufacturing operations of well understood nature and at low cost.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a Ydetailed description of the same, which consists vfin the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary perspective View of the adjacent edge portions of a car door stanchion or frame member and the door itself, showing the hinged connections between these parts, the door being in the full open position;

Figures 2, 3, and 4 show fragmentary sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4 of Figure 1 looking in the directions of the arrows, showing the relative forms of the three hinge members at the top, middle, and bottom portions of the door, all of said hinge members embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section through the adjacent hinged portions of two elements which are hinged together by use of one form of hinges embodying the features of the present invention, the hinged elements being in alignment with each other; .45

Figure 6 shows a view similar to that of Figure 5, but with the two hinged elements turned at right angles to each other in one direction;

Figure 7 shows a view similar to that of Figure 6, but with the two hinged elements turned at right angles to each other in the other direction; Figure 8 shows a fragmentary section on the line 8 8 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

l Figure 9 shows a view similar to that of Figure 55 5 but showing another application of the hinges;

Figure 10 shows a view similar to that of Figure 7, but for the form of hinge shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows a view similar to that of Figure 10 but with the hinged elements turned into parallelism to each other;

Figure 12 shows a fragmentary section on the line |2-I2 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 13 shows a view similar to that of Figures 5 and 9 but showing another form and application of the hinges;

Figure 14 shows the device of Figure A13 turned to a right angular position; and Figure 15 shows a view similar to that of Figure 14, but with the hinged elements turned beyond the right angular position.

Referring now to the drawings and to Figures 5, 6, '1 and 8, in this case the two elements 2|) and 2| are hinged together. The element 2| is notched at 22 in its edge portion by a notch which is formed substantially on a forty-five degree angle. The hinge includes a plate 23 which, in the application shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, is placed across the edge of the element 20 and at the position of the notch 22. This plate 23 is secured to the edge of the element 20 and is rigid therewith.

Secured to the element 2| there is a plate 24 which constitutes another portion of the hinge. This plate is secured to the face of the element 2|. It also includes a slide socket 25 which is of substantial length. There is a slide member 26 which is pivotally connected to the plate 23 at the point 21, said slide member being slidably placed within the guide or socket 25 and working therein. There is also a link 28 which is pivotally connected to the plate 23 at the point 29, and is pivotally connected to the plate 24 at the point 30. The notch 22 accommodates the movements of the link 28, and also serves to receive said link when the hinged elements are in the position of Figure 5 and as they move between the positions of Figures 6 and '7.

It will be noted that this arrangement provides a hinged connection between the elements which hinged connection is fully concealed when viewed from the left in Figure 5 andv from the inside of the angle as in Figure 6, and furthermore the hinged elements are capable of movement to the position of Figure 7 in which position the hinge is partially concealed; thus making it possible to secure a movement of one-hundred eighty degrees during half of which the hinge is fully concealed, and during the other half of which the vhinge is partially concealed.

In the-arrangement shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is provided a hinged connection between the elements 3| and 32. The hinge of the present figures is the same in form and construction as that shown in Figures 5, 6, '7 and 8, but in the present case the plate 23 is placed on the face of the element 3| instead of on the edge thereof as in the previously illustrated application. Examination of the Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 will amply disclose the relative movements of parts which are produced by this application of the hinge; but it will be noted especially that the relative movements of the hinged elements 3| and 32 are from a position in which they are in alignment with each other (Figure 9) to a position in which they are in parallelism to each other (Figure 11), such parallelismbeing with the two elements face to face. On the contrary,

in the application shown in Figures 5, 6, '1 and 8 the hinged movement is from a position in which the two hinged elements are at right angles to each other in one direction to a position in which they are at right angles to each other in the opposite direction.

Referring now to Figures 13, 14 and 15, in this case the two elements 33 and 34 are hinged together. The hinge includes a plate 35 which is secured to one face of the element 33, and is provided with the slide guide 36. The plate 35 also includes a lug or bracket projection 31 which projects laterally from one face of the element 33. The slide 38 works within the guide 36. The other hinged element 34 is notched in its edge as shown at 39, and the slide member 38 is bent sidewise as shown at 40 to carry it over the edge of the element 33 to a point where it enters theV notch 39, and within said notch the portion 40 is pivoted to the element 34 at 4|.

There is a link 42 pivoted at one end to the lug or projection 31 at 43. The other end portion of this link is deilected laterally and is entered into the notch 39 where it is pivoted to the element 34 at 44. The result is that the slide and the link are both pivoted to the element 34 at points across the width thereof.

The edge portion of the element 33 is notched as shown at 45 to receive the deflected portions of the slide and the link when the hinged elements are in parallelism with each other.

It will be noted that with this arrangement the lateral deflection of the slide and the link makes it possible for the element 34 to be turned over beyond the right angular position with respect to the element 33, since thereby there is established a clearance at the side when the elements are at right angles to each other, such clearance serving to permit still further turning movement between the two hinged elements, as shown in Figure l5.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I have therein shown the application of the features of the invention to a hinge for connecting an automobile door to the door frame. In this case the door frame stanchion is designated 46, and the adjacent edge of the door is designated 41. The upper edge portions of the door frame and the door are curved over as shown at 46 and 49 in accordance with the well understood practice in vogue at the present time, and furthermore, the faces of the body and of the door are curved or bulged as shown at 50 and 5| respectively. There are provided three hinges 52, 53 and 54 at the upper, central and lower portions of the structure respectively. There is placed a metal strip 55 along the door stanchion, said strip being provided with the knuckles 56 and 51 for the hinge 52, the knuckles 58 and 59 for the hinge 53, and the knuckles 60 and 6| for the hinge 54.

The hinge 52 includes a plate 62 secured to the upper portion of the door, the hinge 53 includes a plate 63 secured to the central portion of the door, and the hinge 54 includes a plate 64 secured to the lower portion of the door. The plate 62 has the knuckle 65 for the link 66 of the upper hinge, and also the slide openings for the slide 61 of the upper hinge; the plate 63 has the knuckle 68 for the link 69 and the slide openings for the slide 10 of the central hinge; and the plate 64 has the knuckle 1| for the link 12 and the slide openings for the slide 13 of the lower hinge. 'I'he general forms of the links and slides for these three hinges are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and it will be noted that by properly 75 offsetting the links and slides for the three hinges it is possible to secure proper co-ordination between the hinging movements of the three hinges, to thereby permit the door to be swung without strain on the hinges and door. In this connection it may be stated that the forms of the hinges are such that during the swinging movements the slides of the several hinges always maintain parallelism with respect to each other, such action being needed in order to permit sliding movement thereof without any lateral rocking of the slides with respect to the door and the plates 62, 63 and 64 respectively.

It was explained that in the form shown the knuckles 56, 51, 58, 55, 6l) and 6| are formed on the plate which is in turn attached to the door stanchion. In some cases it may be desirable to place these eyelets on separate plates which are then separately attached to the door stanchion, but the unitary arrangement illustrated is preferred for simplicity and stiffness and for other reasons.

It will also be noted from examination of Figure 1 that the links and slides for the central and lower hinges 53 and 54 are inserted into their respective knuckles from above, whereas the link and slide for the hinge 52 are inserted into their knuckles from below. This arrangement prevents disengagement of these parts from their respective knuckles without removal of the plates from the door itself, so that the door is in effect locked in place in the stanchion by the hinges themselves.

Each of the plates 62, 63 and 64 is provided with a lug or projection through which the corresponding slide works, these being the lugs, 14, 15 and 15 for the plates 62, 63 and 64 respectively. The slides themselves are provided with springs 11, 18 and 19 which bear against these lugs and against cross pins on the slides, so

that these springs act as buffers to limit` the door opening movement at the proper time and with a cushioning effect. Consequently the hinge constructions serve also the function of buffers to cushion the door opening movement, thereby eliminating the need for such buiers themselves, elsewhere.

Referring to Figures 13, 14 and 15, I will state 1 that in this form of device the pivotal portions 4| of the slides are extended laterally, that is, away from the observer in said figures, so that they constitute effective stops against which the links 42 come to bear at the limit of hinging movement in one direction, as shown in Figure 13. Thus these hinges serve as effective stops to limit the actual amount of hinging movement in that direction. This is an important feature inV using these hinges for certain classes of use such as for hinging desk drops to the cabinets of the desks.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claim, and neither do I intend to limit the applications of my hinges to those uses herein mentioned, except as I may do so in the claim.

I claim:

Means for connecting two members together comprising a pair of links each pivoted to one of said members, the pivots of said links being spaced apart on the aforesaid member, one of said links being also pivoted to the other member at one side thereof, and the said other member having a guide thereon on the same side to which the link is pivoted, said guide slidably receiving the other link and preventing angular movement of said other link with respect to the member on which the guide is mounted.

TALLMON ETHAN HORST. 

